Hundreds of people take part in a meditation session on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang at a recent event. Photo: Supplied
On Friday, more than 150 medical experts, scientists and health technology businesses gathered at Furama Resort Da Nang for the Da Nang Longevity Summit 2026, a conference on longevity medicine and healthy aging.
Da Nang as a wellness tourism destination
Before the conference, experts were invited to join a wellness experience that began with sunrise breathing exercises along My Khe Beach.
Against the backdrop of the early-morning sea, participants practiced breathing techniques, enjoyed the fresh air and explored wellness activities combining health care and relaxation.
The program also featured floating meditation on the sea, red light therapy, physical mobility assessments and health indicator screenings.
Sessions on nutrition, sleep and physical recovery were also introduced, giving participants an insight into services that could be incorporated into a wellness retreat.
According to the organizers, the activities were jointly arranged with the tourism sector to showcase Da Nang's natural advantages, infrastructure and potential for developing health and wellness tourism products.
Beyond conventional sightseeing and leisure, visitors could have access to a wider range of services tailored to their health and well-being needs.
Meditation and wellness activities on Son Tra Peninsula. Photo: T.N.
Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, vice-chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee, said that as life expectancy rises and the population ages, shifting the focus from treating illnesses to preventive health care and improving quality of life is becoming increasingly important.
Da Nang has advantages in its living environment, natural landscapes, tourism infrastructure and expanding health care facilities.
These conditions provide a favorable foundation for the city to develop high-quality wellness services combining medical care, relaxation and tourism.
In recent years, the tourism sector and relevant agencies have worked together to welcome groups of visitors to Da Nang for trips combining leisure and health care.
The city sees this as an emerging sector with significant growth potential and one for which preparations have already been underway.
"Being young does not always mean being healthy"
Held on Friday to Saturday, the conference focuses on topics including the biology of aging, metabolic health, neuroscience, women's health, biomarkers and models for developing medical tourism infrastructure.
The event was co-chaired by the Da Nang Foreign Investment Network (DNFIN), with high-tech sports company Evo Vietnam serving as co-organizer.
One topic that drew considerable interest from scientists was the concept of biological age and how to assess whether a person is truly healthy.
In a presentation on biological age, Thai doctor Suwimol Pechlert illustrated how two people of the same chronological age of 55 can differ significantly in muscle strength, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, mobility, and disease risks.
Da Nang officials, scientists and experts pose for a group photo at the conference. Photo: Ba Dung / Tuoi Tre
Dr. Suwimol Pechlert said biological age is estimated using biomarkers and algorithms. However, no single test or biomarker can fully capture the aging process.
Collecting more health data does not necessarily lead to better care if the findings do not help improve treatment or preventive health decisions.
Rather than pursuing a biological age younger than one's actual age, the focus should be on cardiovascular health, mobility, cognitive function, independence in daily activities and overall quality of life.
This perspective also highlights the need for Da Nang to ensure that its wellness tourism development goes beyond offering novel experiences.
Health care services should be scientifically grounded, meet quality standards and deliver tangible benefits to visitors.
According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the number of international visitors to Vietnam combining travel with health care grew by an average of around 12 percent annually between 2017 and 2024.
Seeking to capitalize on this trend, Da Nang is developing a range of services, including medical tourism and wellness care.
The city currently has dozens of hospitals, alongside a network of health care and resort facilities that is among the largest in central Vietnam.
After spending several days exploring the city's facilities during the conference, participating scientists and experts were impressed by Da Nang's ability to bring together many of the essential conditions for health care and restorative leisure in one urban destination.
